U.S. scrambles jets as Russian planes buzz carrier

By Jacqueline Klimas, Jacqueline Klimas

Published December 20, 2015

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Two Russian aircraft got within one nautical mile of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan on Tuesday, prompting the ship to scramble its fighter jets, according to a report.

While U.S. and Russian officials recently reached a memorandum of understanding to keep planes a safe distance apart over Syria, this incident suggests the document will not improve interactions between Russian and U.S. assets throughout the world.

The carrier was sailing in international waters near the Korean Peninsula when two Russian reconnaissance planes flew as low 500 as feet near the carrier, Stars and Stripes reported. Four F/A-18 Super Hornets took off from the Reagan in response to the Russian planes' actions.